Panaji: Paddy cultivation in Goa has suffered damage across several areas due to poor monsoon rainfall, with preliminary reports indicating that around 20 hectares of paddy fields have been affected so far.Director of agriculture Chandrahas Desai said crop damage has been reported from almost all talukas where paddy is cultivated, covering both lowland and upland fields. While low-lying fields have largely retained moisture, some impact has been observed in upland areas.“Most parts of Goa have not experienced any major impact from the recent spell of reduced rainfall. The figure of 20 hectares represents the area reported as affected and should not be confused with the percentage of crop loss,” he said.A detailed assessment of the financial value of the damage has not yet been completed. Farmers are required to submit the necessary forms, following which agriculture officials will conduct field inspections and calculate the actual crop loss.“It is too early to compare the extent of this year’s kharif crop losses with those recorded last year, as the assessment process is still under way,” Desai said.The directorate of agriculture had earlier placed taluka-level officers on high alert to monitor crop conditions after Goa experienced a prolonged dry spell in Sept. The state had also faced a 10-day dry spell in July, raising concerns among farmers over crop stress and water availability.TOI had earlier reported that this season, Goa recorded 80 inches of cumulative rainfall from June 1 to Sept 30, which is nearly 30 inches below the normal value.Despite the reduced rainfall, officials said the situation is not currently expected to have a major impact on the upcoming rabi season. “Rabi crops are generally sown towards the end of Nov or in early Dec and harvested in the following months. The moisture and water conditions available at present are expected to be adequate for the initial stages of the season,” Desai said.“However, the situation could change if there are prolonged gaps in rainfall during the later part of the season, particularly as the state moves towards the summer months,” he added.The department is also preparing for the distribution of vegetable seeds for the upcoming rabi season.
